PHOTOS: Sen. Schiff Tours Salton Sea, Meets with Youth Leaders in the Imperial Valley

Download footage from the visits here . Washington D.C. — This past weekend, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) made his first visit to the Imperial Valley since being sworn into the U.S. Senate. He was joined by Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) to tour the Salton Sea, hearing from local officials about how the exposed lakebed is impacting the health of the 180,000 residents in the area and harming local wildlife – both in and around the lake. Schiff also discussed finding a balance between promoting economic opportunities and keeping communities safe from the impacts of lithium extraction. The Salton Sea is California’s largest lake located in southern Riverside and northern Imperial counties. Farmers in the Imperial Valley rely completely on water from the Colorado River to irrigate their fields. The Salton Sea relies on the water drainage from these fields. Schiff also participated in a roundtable with the Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition to discuss the challenges rural communities face under the new administration. In the meeting, Schiff reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for all Californians, standing up to the Trump administration, and meeting the needs of Californians up and down the state. Schiff also stopped by the Imperial County’s Mid-Winter Fair to meet the next generation of California farmers and support small businesses. View photos from the weekend here: ###